Former Wolverhampton headteacher dies aged 85

Michael George Davies was 85.

Mr Davies was headteacher at Northicote School, Bushbury, from 1969 until his retirement in 1993.

He died peacefully at his home in Codsall at 3.20am on Saturday after a lengthy battle with aphasia and Parkinson's Disease.

Mr Davies was diagnosed with aphasia in 2009, a condition which progressively robbed him of his speech. He was subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and in recent weeks had become increasingly frail.

A former pupil at St Chad's College, he served in the Royal Navy from 1952 to 1955 as a Russian interpreter. He subsequently joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a lieutenant-commander.

His first teaching post was at Bushbury Hill Boys' School. He went on to become head of English at Elmore Green Secondary Modern in Walsall, then joined Chuckery Secondary School as deputy head between 1958 and 1966. In that year, he moved to Somerset to become headmaster at Westover School, Bridgwater, before returning to Wolverhampton to become headmaster of Northicote High School in 1969.

Mr Davies was very keen on developing musical talent and drama at Northicote which flourished under head of music, Dennis Powell.

Following his retirement in 1993, Mr Davies was able to spend more time honing his artistic skills as an artist and a wood-carver, producing a love spoon each year for his wife Judy to mark their wedding anniversary. He also produced numerous other pieces, including religious carvings, animals and birds, winning first and second prizes at the West Midlands Wood Carving Show in recent years.

Mr Davies was also a keen dog trainer, taking part in obedience and working trials with his border collies all over the country. In his youth he was a keen athlete running the 100-yard sprint for Staffordshire's county team.

He leaves a wife Judy and three grown-up children, Robert, Richard and Sally and five grandchildren.